Sanitary beverage can cover

ABSTRACT

A sanitary cover is provided for a beverage can of the type having a top defined by a ridge with an outwardly extending lip. The cover includes a body portion with an edge and a wall extending downwardly from the edge of the body portion. The wall has a channel with an inwardly directed opening. The cover is adapted to mount on a can with the body portion proximate the can top and the wall received around the can ridge with the can lip received within the channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority is claimed on Provisional Patent Application No. 60/819,271,filed Jul. 6, 2006.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAMLISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention related to beverage cans and the like, and moreparticularly to a sanitary cover for beverage cans.

2. Description of Prior Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR1.97 and 1.98

Beverages such as soda, juices and beer are normally packaged inmultiple can packs and stored in various places for periods of time.Such cans can be exposed to dust and other contaminants over the storageperiod.

After storage and prior to their consumption, the cans are shipped invarious vehicles and distributed to stores and restaurants for sale. Inaddition, these cans may be handled by others, in addition to theconsumer prior to drinking.

Finally, the can is opened and the beverage consumed by mouth, usuallywithout ever cleaning or wiping the top surface of the can. As a result,bacteria and other contaminants present on the top of the can may beingested and may cause illness or infection.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a simple membrane cover made of plasticor other similar flexible material designed to enclose the tops of cansused for various beverages. The cover is installed at the factory duringthe can filling and sealing process where a final operation presses amolded plastic cover down onto the can top.

The cover is designed to fit snugly over the lipped top of the beveragecan. The cover firmly attaches to the top of the can such that dust orcontaminants are unable to reach the drinking surface until the consumeris ready to open the can.

After the can has been opened by the consumer, if the entire contents ofthe can have not been consumed, the cover can be reinstalled on the topof the can to keep the top of the can clean and the beverage fresh. Thereinstalled cover will allow the unused portion of the beverage to bestored additionally with only some loss of carbonation and taste.

Moreover, because the cover is made of plastic, it can be recycled afterit is no longer needed. Hence, the cover of my invention isenvironmentally friendly.

It is therefore, a prime object of the present invention to provide asanitary cover for a beverage can.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sanitarycover for a beverage can designed to enclose the tops of cans used forvarious beverages

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sanitarycover for a beverage can to prevent dust or other contaminants fromreaching the drinking surface of the top of the can until the consumeris ready to open the can.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sanitarycover for a beverage can that is installed at the factory during the canfilling and sealing process where a final operation presses a moldedplastic cover down onto the can top.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sanitarycover for a beverage can that can be reinstalled on the top of the canafter the can has been opened to keep the top of the can clean and thebeverage fresh, allowing the unused portion of the beverage to be storedadditionally with only some loss of carbonation and taste.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sanitarycover for a beverage can that can be recycled after it is no longerneeded.

In general, the above objects are achieved by the present invention byproviding a cover for a can. The can is the type that has a top definedby a ridge with an outwardly extending lip. The cover includes a bodyportion. A wall extends downwards from the edge of the body portion. Thewall has a channel with an inwardly directed opening. The cover isadapted to be mounted on the can with the body portion proximate the cantop and the wall received around the can ridge with the can lip receivedwithin the channel.

Preferably, the cover is formed of flexible material, such as plastic,to enable the body portion of the cover to flex as the cover is presseddown over the top of the can. For that reason, the cover body portion ofthe cover is formed to be slightly arcuate, prior to mounting on thecan. During mounting, the body portion flexes to permit the wall to bereceived around the can ridge and the lip inserted into the channel.

Preferably, a tab extending outwardly from the wall is provided tofacilitate removal of the cover from the can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter appears, thepresent invention relates to a sanitary beverage can cover as describedin detail in the following specification and recited in the annexedclaims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which likenumerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the top of a beverage can with the sanitarycover of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the side of a beverage can with the sanitarycover of the present invention mounted thereon, the cover being shownwith a cut-away portion, with an insert section showing an enlarged viewof the wall of the cover received around the ridge and the lip withinthe channel in the wall;

FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away view of the side of the upper portion ofa beverage can showing the cover of the present invention before andafter mounting; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the beverage can of FIG. 2 showing aportion of the cover cut away and the tab used to facilitate removal ofthe cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in the drawings, the sanitary cover of the presentinvention, generally designated A, is designed for use on a can, such asa standard beverage can, generally designated B, made of metal, such asaluminum. Such cans are standard throughout the beverage industry andare sold in great quantities around the world. However, the presentinvention could be used on cans with different shapes, with only slightmodification, if required.

Can B includes a top surface 10 with a conventional opening system inthe form of a removable pull tab 12. Surface 10 is defined in part by anupstanding circular ridge 14 which surrounds pull tab 12. Ridge 14 hasan outwardly extending lip 16.

Cover A includes a body portion 18. A wall 20 extends downwardly fromthe edge of body portion 18. Wall 20 has a channel 22 with an inwardlydirected opening.

Cover A is adapted to mount on the top of can B over surface 10 withbody portion 18 proximate surface 10 and wall 20 received around canridge 14 with lip 16 received within channel 22, as illustrated in FIGS.1, 3 and 4.

As best seen in FIG. 3, cover A, including body portion 18 is formed offlexible material, such as plastic such that it can flex as it ispressed downwardly over the top of the can. Body portion 18, as shown inFIG. 3 is arcuate prior to mounting on the can. The body portion isflexed as the cover is mounted on the can to permit wall 20 to bereceived around ridge 14 and lip 16 to seat within channel 22.

Thus, cover A is shaped in such a way that the cover starts out convexwith respect to the can top. When pressed into place over the can thecamber in the cover releases and the cover is stretched over can ridge14 to create the desired seal over the can. A slight amount of overpressure provides out gassing of any air trapped between the top of thecan and the cover so that upon release of the pressure from the mountingequipment, the desired seal is obtained. The body portion 18 of thecover will be in a substantially planar state subsequent toinstallation. The flat upper surface of the cover will enhance theability to stack the cans more easily during storage.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, an optional tab 24, extending outwardly fromthe exterior surface of wall 20, may be provided to assist removal andreinstallation of the cover. Preferably, tab 24 is integral with cover Aand formed with the cover as it is injection molded.

It will now be appreciated that the present invention relates to asanitary cover for a beverage can having a top defined by a ridge withan outwardly extending lip. The cover includes a body portion with anedge and a wall extending downwardly from the edge of the body portion.The wall has a channel with an inwardly directed opening. The cover isadapted to mount on a can with the body portion proximate the can topand the wall received around the can ridge with the can lip receivedwithin the channel.

The sanitary cover can be used on any standard beverage can or modifiedto fit cans have different configurations. It is designed to enclose thetop of a can to prevent dust or other contaminants from reaching thedrinking surface of the top of the can until the consumer is ready toopen the can. It can be installed at the factory during the can fillingand sealing process where a final operation presses a molded plasticcover down onto the can top. Subsequent to installation, the flat topsurface of the cover will facilitate stacking of the cans for storage.

The cover can be reinstalled on the top of the can after the can hasbeen opened to keep the top of the can clean and the beverage fresh,allowing the unused portion of the beverage to be stored additionallywith only some loss of carbonation and taste. Further, the sanitarycover can be recycled after it is no longer needed.

While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention hasbeen disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that manymodifications and variations could be made thereto. It is intended tocover all of those modifications and variations which fall within thescope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.

1. A cover for a can of the type having a top defined by a ridge with anoutwardly extending lip, said cover comprising a body portion with anedge and a wall extending downwardly from said edge of said bodyportion, said wall having a channel with an inwardly directed opening,said cover being adapted to mount on a can with said body portionproximate the can top and said wall received around the can ridge withthe can lip received within said channel.
 2. The cover of claim 1wherein said body portion is formed of flexible material.
 3. The coverof claim 1 wherein said body portion is arcuate prior to mounting on thecan.
 4. The cover of claim 1 wherein said body portion is flexed as thecover is mounted on the can to permit said wall to be received aroundthe can ridge.
 5. The cover of claim 1 further comprising a tabextending from said wall.